Simultaneously, almost, with the report, I heard another sound—­that of breaking glass.  Waiting, only to recharge my weapon, I ran from the roof, and down the first two flights of stairs.

Here, I paused to listen.  As I did so, there came another tinkle of falling glass.  It appeared to come from the floor below.  Excitedly, I sprang down the steps, and, guided by the rattle of the window-sash, reached the door of one of the empty bedrooms, at the back of the house.  I thrust it open.  The room was but dimly illuminated by the moonlight; most of the light being blotted out by moving figures at the window.  Even as I stood, one crawled through, into the room.  Leveling my weapon, I fired point-blank at it—­filling the room with a deafening bang.  When the smoke cleared, I saw that the room was empty, and the window free.  The room was much lighter.  The night air blew in, coldly, through the shattered panes.  Down below, in the night, I could hear a soft moaning, and a confused murmur of swine-voices.

Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.  Presently, I heard a scuffling noise.  From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.

Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.  It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.  A moment later, the face of one of the Swine-creatures rose into view.  Then, before I could use my rifle, or do anything, there came a sharp crack—­cr-ac-k; and the window-frame gave way under the weight of the Thing.  Next instant, a squashing thud, and a loud outcry, told me that it had fallen to the ground.  With a savage hope that it had been killed, I went to the window.  The moon had gone behind a cloud, so that I could see nothing; though a steady hum of jabbering, just beneath where I stood, indicated that there were several more of the brutes close at hand.

As I stood there, looking down, I marveled how it had been possible for the creatures to climb so far; for the wall is comparatively smooth, while the distance to the ground must be, at least, eighty feet.

All at once, as I bent, peering, I saw something, indistinctly, that cut the grey shadow of the house-side, with a black line.  It passed the window, to the left, at a distance of about two feet.  Then, I remembered that it was a gutter-pipe, that had been put there some years ago, to carry off the rainwater.  I had forgotten about it.  I could see, now, how the creatures had managed to reach the window.  Even as the solution came to me, I heard a faint slithering, scratching noise, and knew that another of the brutes was coming.  I waited some odd moments; then leant out of the window and felt the pipe.  To my delight, I found that it was quite loose, and I managed, using the rifle-barrel as a crowbar, to lever it out from the wall.  I worked quickly.  Then, taking hold with both bands, I wrenched the whole concern away, and hurled it down—­with the Thing still clinging to it—­into the garden.